Santa Cruz County forecast calls for dry, mild holiday

Expect rain Wednesday morning, but storm clouds will drift off by the afternoon, leading into a mostly sunny and mild Thanksgiving weekend, predicts forecaster Bob Benjamin at the National Weather Service in Monterey.

Holiday travelers may see some puddles in the road Wednesday afternoon, but conditions should be good after that.

"Rain is moving in tonight, but then moving out of here, and we should have several nice days," Benjamin said. "Everybody around the Central Coast should be in for a nice weekend."

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to upper 60s during the day -- possibly reaching into the low 70s on Saturday and Sunday, Benjamin said. Nights will be cooler, in the mid- to upper 40s.

Tuesday brought a little rain -- just 0.04 of an inch fell in Santa Cruz. That brought the city's total up to 2.75 inches since July 1, the start of the tracking season. The total represents 68 percent of normal by this time of the year.

Wednesday: 63 during the day, 45 at night; morning shower clearing by afternoon.Thursday: 66 during the day, 46 at night; mostly sunny.Friday: 71 during the day, 47 at night; mostly sunny.Saturday: 70 during the day, 48 at night; mostly sunny.Sunday: 67 during the day, 46 at night; partly sunny.